Mobile device management policy must now cover consumer devices

There's no denying the spread of consumer-based smartphones and tablets at most companies. Employees, choosing to go with devices they are comfortable with, are bringing devices from home and connecting to the corporate network.

According to a recent Citrix report, the Global BYO Index, many companies are supporting such devices, and benefiting from them as a result.

"The top benefits derived, or expected, from a BYO policy are worker job satisfaction, productivity, greater mobility, a more flexible working environment and IT cost reduction," the report stated.

Among the 700 respondents in seven global markets, 92 percent said they were aware at least some employees are connecting to the company network with personally owned devices. Overall, 44 percent have a formal mobile device management policy in place for such practices. At 56 percent, U.S. respondents were the most likely to have a policy.

MDM for Android and iPhone security solutions now seem to be required within all companies, experts agree. The increasing popularity of the mobile platforms has spilled over from the consumer to the enterprise market as more mobile users adopt them.